DAY 94 – KYLERHEA TO ISLEORNSAY

Our accommodation during this trip was at Mrs MacLennans B&B at 16 Kyleside, Kyleakin, Tele; 01599 534468. Our rooms were very clean, warm and comfortable. Mrs MacLennan and her husband were very welcoming and the breakfasts were excellent. We have no hesitation in recommending it to others. Both nights we ate in ‘Saucy Mary’s’ a short walk from our accommodation and the food and beer was good and reasonably priced.

After a good evening meal and a much needed good nights sleep we awoke to a lovely sunny morning. Breakfast was excellent and we set off back to Kylerhea, the start of todays walk. Having been unable to arrange local transport Bill very kindly offered to drop Phil and I at the start of the walk, travel to the end then walk back to meet us. It was nice and warm when we set off from the pier at Kylerhea walking on the minor road through the village where we stopped to chat to a lovely local lady called Margo McInnes. Margo advised us on our proposed route and informed us that some of her forebears who had lived in the village were known to be smugglers. Walking to the end of the village road we found the signpost indicating the start of the path shown on the O.S.map and initially followed it along the edge of the sea. A notice we had seen earlier described the path as unmarked and we were soon to find that description very accurate. After about half a mile the path disappeared into a marshy copse of trees and thereafter we had to find our own way along the hillside. Underfoot conditions were much better than yesterday although there were a few difficult gulleys to cross which required some scrambling. As we neared the Pine forest near Port Aslaig we luckily stumbled on the path again which led us to the top corner of the woods. At this point it appeared the path crossed some marshy ground and entered the forest,…it didn’t. We followed the top line of the forest near the deer fence and found the path entered the forest about quarter of a mile further on. The forest track was good and easy to follow and we spotted Bill near Rubha Guail and dropped down the hillside to join him for the walk to the car park near Kinloch Lodge Hotel. Ahead across Loch na Dal we could see our destination at Isleornsay. Crossing the bridge on the hotel access road we made our way across the marshy grassland towards the main road. We were only able to walk at the loch edge for a short distance before we were had to walk on the road into Isleornsay. We enjoyed a refreshing pint in the lovely Isleornsay Hotel at the pier before travelling back to Kyleakin.

Summary; A much easier walk than yesterday. Generally underfoot conditions were fine, if a bit boggy at times. Some of the gulleys were a challenge and would be a problem if you were unfit. Some great views particularly across to Glenelg and Knoydart.

Highs; Great weather, great views and great pint at the end.

Lows;Not being able to arrange transport so we could all do the walk.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Phil, Bill and Morris ready to set off from Kylerhea

Looking across from Kylerhea to the pier at Glenelg

Looking back from Kylerhea to yesterdays walk

Phil on the road through the village

We enjoyed a chat with a lovely lady called Margo McInnes

The signpost at the end of the road showing the start of the path…..what path???